Electric switch



April 19, 1932. H, -1I HAMMERLY '1,854,404

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March l1, 1951 INVENTOR vI/pmerly,

Patented Apr. 19, 1932 PATENT oFFlcE HERMAN J'. HAMMERLY, OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TOI TI-IE TRUMB'ULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F PLAIN VILLE, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT ELECTRIC SWITCH Application med maren 11, 1931. serial No. 521,709.

My invention relates to enclosed electric switches and in particular to the means for manually operating the same by'means of an external handle. v

It is highly important that the interior mechanism and contacts of enclosed switches be protected. from the entrance of dust or in? sects and that there shall be no openings in the enclosing box to allow the escape of gas or flame in the event of a short circuit or the blowing of a fuse within the box.

It is desirable that the operating handle for this class of switch shall be mounted on the front of the box cover where it is freely accessible for manual operation and where there can be no doubt as to its connection with the switch within the box as is sometimes the case where a number of side-handle operated switches are mounted adjacent to each other.

Is is desirable that the operating handle shall be amply rugged and substantial in proportions and provided with rigid stops throw the switch to its on and off positions without fear of straining or injuring any part of the construction.

It is also desirable that the operating handle shall be so connected with the switch throwing mechanism that there will bey no strain on the box parts or tendency to force the cover open in the operating movements of the handle.

F or convenience in connecting the wires to the switch terminals, in instances where the handle is positioned at the front ofthe switch box, it is desirable 'that the handle shall have a readily detachable connection with the switch operating mechanism in order that the handle and the entire cover may be removed.

In constructions which include a hinged cover for the box, it is desirable that the handle be mounted on the cover and so connected with the switch throwing mechanism that the cover may be opened and carry the handle with it without disturbing any of the connections between the handle and the switch throwing mechanism.

An important requirement of a front projecting operating handle is that it shall be so arranged with respect to the interior switch mechanism that its projecting end will lay as close as possible to the plane of the box cover in both its on and off positions in order to provide the maximum passage space between the handle and any panel board or other structure that may be positioned in front of the switch. This feature is also important with respect to packing and shipping the switches.

lt is further desirable that a switch operating handle shall be provided with means for operating the switch by means of a hook or pole when the switch is mounted `horizontally on a ceiling or on a high side wall and it is'very important that means shall be provided for locking the switch in the on or otl'/l-positions with one or more padlocks in order to protect electricians who may be working in any way on the same circuit.

The object of my invention is to provide @....construct-ion in which the forementioned in order that the operator may vigorouslyflde'sirable features arev combined in a rugged and practical manner.

rlhe invention relates particularly to the type of switches illustrated in my co-pending application No. 519,329 filed March 2, 1931 and in my application N o. 519,328 filed March 2, 1931. i

As the invention relates to the box and the actuating handle it will be unnecessary to illustrate and describe the switch mechanism although details of one form of switch actuating mechanism will be found in said application.

In its preferred form the box is providedwith an opening tion of the switch by means of a hook or other.

Fig. 1 is aperspectiveview of a construction embodying my invention. y

Fig. 2 is a-pers ective view of the cover separate from the ox.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing a fragment of the handle and the supporting socket and cover.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the socket member.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view showing the handle and its mounting.``

The box 5 may be of any suitable type usually of sheet metal and provided with a cover formed of `two parts. The lower part 6 is secured to the box by a number of screws 7 and the upper part 8 is hinged at 9 to the lower part so permit access to the fuse Vreceiving portion ofthe box. A spring latch 10 is referably provided to engage'the upper e ge of the cover and this may be sealed or locked asv is customary. j

The socket member-is provided with' side flanges 11 and outstanding ribs 12--12 between which is a recess 13. `This recess is closed at the rear by a wall 14 which projects through an opening 15 in the cover. This socket may besecured in lace by rivets extending, for instance, throng holes 16 and through the cover. A handle 17 is mounted on a shaft 18 which extends into the recess 13 and by which the shaft is rotated. This shaft has an offset crank 19 adapted to be detachably inserted in the end 21 of a link connected to the switch actuating mechanism (not shown). One flange of the cover may be notched at 22 to permit the shaft to be inserted through the side of the socket into the inner end of the handle. An additional bearing 23 may be provided for the shaft if desired.

The socket member is provided with shoulders 24 and 25 adapted to serve as abutments for the shoulders 26 and 27 of the handle when throwing the switch into the on or olf position.

The side walls 12 are preferably provided with one or more openings such as 28 to per' mit the insertion of one or more padlocks or other form of sealing device for locking the switch in either the off or open circuit position when so desired. y

The handle itself is preferably provided 29 to facilitate the operaimplement.

The socket is preferably formed of a one piece metal casting. The socket not only affords an adequate support for the actuating handle but it effectively prevents the entrance of dirt or insects into the switch case and also is free of openings through which sparks or flame might ass when the switch is opened or when the uses blow.

B removing the screws 7 the lower half of t c cover may be raised for the purpose that itcan be swung down to.

of inspecting the switch per se and by re leasing the latch 10 the cover may be removed so that the entire switch mechanism may be inspected without disturbing the switch itself or any of the connections or the switch may be readily removed if desired.

I claim:

l. In a switch, a box, a cover for said box, a handle construction secured to said cover and including a socket extending through the cover with and having laterally projecting flanges at the edges of the socket, a handle in said socket and a crank shaft secured inside of the cover and connected to said handle through a wall of said socket to form a pivotal mounting for'said handle.

2. In a switch, a box, a cover for said box formed in two parts, one of which to the other and one of which is movable, a handle construction secured to the movable part of said cover and including a socket having a recess and extending through a part of the cover, a handle in said recess and a crank shaft secured inside of the cover and connected to said handle through a wall of said socket to form a pivotal mounting for said handle.

3. In a switch, a box, a cover for said box, a handle construction secured to the cover and including a socket having a recess an extending through the cover and having a laterally projecting surrounding flange, a handle in said recess and a crank shaft secured inside of the cover and connected to said handle through a wall of said socket to forma hinge joint for said handle.

4. In a switch, a box, a'cover for saidbox, a handle construction secured to said cover and including a socket extending through an opening in the cover and having laterally projecting flanges for overstanding the edges of the opening and a handle hinged in said socket, said socket having projecting flanges perforated to receive locking means for said handle.

5. In a switch, a box having a cover formed in two parts, one part of which is hinged to the other part, and a handle construction secured to one of the cover parts and including a, socket extending through one part of the cover and a handle hinged in said socket.

6. In a switch, a box, a cover for said box and having a ange, a handle construction -secured to the cover and including a socket extending through a part of the cover and a handle hinged in said socket and having a crank shaft secured inside of the cover and connected to said handle through a wall of said socket said flange having a slot and said cank shaft being removable through said s ot.-

7 In a switch, a cover and a handle construction secured to it and including a socket extending through the cover with flanges at the edges of the socket and a handle hinged in is hinged des said socket and having a crank shaft Secured i inside of the cover` and connected to saldl handle through said socket.

8. In a switch, a box having a cover formed in two parts, one of which is hinged to the other, and a handle construction secured toy -iiange anda handle hinged in said socket and having a crank shaft secured inside of the cover and connected to said handle through said socket. 10. In a switch, a cover and a handle construction secured to it and including a socket extending through an opening in the cover and with anges overstanding the edges of the opening and a handle hinged in said socket, said socket having projecting Hanges perforated to receive loc ing means for the handle.

11. In a switch, a box having a cover formed in the two parts, the upper part of which is hinged to the lower part, and a handle construction secured to the upper part and including a socket extending through the upper part of the cover and a handle hinged in said socket. i

12. In a switch, a cover having a ange and a handle construction secured to the cover and including a socket extendin through a part of the cover and a handle inged 1n said socket and having a crank shaft secured inside of the cover and connected to said handle through said socket, said flange having a slot and said crank shaft being removable through said slot. A

HERMAN J. HAMMERLY. 

